Today started with a nice breakfast at our hotel then a short walk to the Lamphey Bishop’s Palace. The Palace is in ruins but set in lovely surroundings. It was much larger than I was expecting. For some reason Bishop’s Palace seemed more not house than castle but I was wrong. It was quite large with multiple buildings.

Bishop’s Palace is where 12 year old Margaret Beaufort and somewhat older (at least 10 years) Edmund Tudor honeymooned. It is also where the historians believe Henry Tudor was conceived. Within a a few months Edmund Tudor was captured and died while being held in Carmarthen Castle before the birth of his son. Once learning that Edmund had died Margaret turned to her brother in law Jasper Tudor and left Bishop’s Castle for Pembroke.

The ruins are quite secluded and seemed very peaceful. Both Nicola and Mike spoke about Margaret and her time there. Even though it is only ruins I really enjoyed the stop.

From the Palace we headed out to Carew Castle. It was built in 1100 during the Norman conquest. It took the Normans many years to capture Wales and they would build a Norman style keep to hold their territory. Carew came to the Normans through marriage. The wales Princess of Deheubarth, Nest ferch Rhys brought the land as her dowry to her marriage with Gerald de Windsor. At some point I will provide some background on Wales Princess and Princessas but not today when I am trying to catch up. It is really interesting or at least something I want to remember. Also by the way “ferch” means daughter and “ap” means son. Also a topic for later on how welsh names evolved.

Anyway back to the castle, Gerald’s son William built into the castle but soon lost it to Rhys ap Thomas so the welsh have reclaimed the land. Rhys ap Thomas helped Henry Tudor defeat Richard, after swearing loyalty to Edmund and Richard both to be able to hold the castle. But he couldn’t resist helping a Welshman gain the throne. He was also prominent in Arthur’s upbringing and included HenryVIIs, Arthur’s and Catherine of Aragon’s coats of arms over an inner doorway that can still be seen today. Sadly his grandson fell out of favor (or was seen as a rival from the Welsh point of view) to Henry VIII and was executed for treason.

There was also a cross at Carew that dates to sometime before 1035. It was likely a gift from the church to Mardudd ap Edmund who along with King Margiteut ruled the kingdom of Deheubarth in south west Wales

From here we went to Pembroke for lunch and then to visit the castle. The town was pretty cute so Val and I wondered a bit for grabbing a quick bite. While looking around the town we walked down by the river and there were a bunch of swans. Not sure if that is a gaggle like geese or if they have another group name. Regardless they are used to being fed. They swam right up to you and soon as you walked down on the path. Well actually a few came quickly then a second wave tried while all the others sort of ignored me but were watching and inching closer in case I started throwing bread.

After lunch we went to Pembroke Castle. Pembroke is a well preserved castle but still a castle. It was never modified to be a modern family home. We had a great guide who had been a high school history teacher and was very passionate about the castle, who lived there and what went on in and around it.

The location was home to an early Roman settlement, which gave way to Welsh settlers and eventually a Norman castle in 1093. In 1189 William Marshall known by the English as the greatest knight that ever lived ( and an invader by the Welsh) married Isabel de Clare and the castle to him. I thought I had already given a bit of his backstory but couldn’t find it so if this is a repeat I am sorry. Anyway he was held as insurance for his father’s good behavior, who then said he didn’t care he could sure other sons but his captor treated him more as a ward than prisoner. He then went off on the tourney circuit and became a favorite and was soon knighted for bravery. He served under Henry II and was assigned to train the kings heir. Other than a brief falling out with the young Henry when Marshall was accused of having an affair with his wife he traveled and fought with him until the young Henry died of illness. He joined the crusades to fulfill young Henry’s vow and there joined the Templars. He returned from the holy land and again supported Henry II and his new heir Richard. Once Richard was king Marshall was left in charge while Richard went off on his crusades. He was also involved in King John’s reign and was a big part of gaining support for the Magna Carta.

Enough of history now back to the castle Marshall built the castle in his retirement more as a status symbol than for protection. He built the large round keep styles after what he had seen in the holy land with a stone ceiling. He also added a large bailey. The castle is built on a promontory of a tidal river and had a large limestone cave underneath in which the castle could receive supplies.

Back to history and the Margaret connection. Jasper Tudor was given the castle and the title from his half brother Henry VI. When his brother Edmund died, Margaret turned to Jasper for support and left Bishop’s Palace to join him at Pembroke Castle. It is here that she gave birth to Henry VII. Sadly the tower in which he was born was destroyed by Oliver Cromwell but it has been rebuilt on the site and includes a Disney like set up to make sure you don’t miss its importance.

We climbed to the top of the round tower. He was a steep spiral staircase but we made it. The view was nice and not too scary.

Nathan took us around to the statute of Henry VII which he had helped fundraise for. Wasn’t the best light for the picture but it was a very nice statute.

I also walked down to the William Marshall statute at the base of the castle. It was not as well crafted as the Henry VII but still a nice statute unless of course your Welsh then you don’t care for it at all.

We returned to the hotel and I had a few drinks in the bar before having fish and chips at the hotel restaurant. It was a great day and I will be sad to leave Lamphey Hall.